Source identification and health risk assessment of PM2.5 in urban districts of Hanoi using PCA/APCS and UNMIX

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2024 Feb;31(8):11815-11831. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-31751-7. Epub 2024 Jan 15.

Abstract

Comparing results obtained by different models with different physical assumptions and constraints for source apportionment is important for better understanding the sources of pollutants. Source apportionment of PM2.5 measured at three sites located in inner urban districts of Hanoi was performed using two receptor models, UNMIX and principal component analysis with absolute principle component score (PCA/APCS). A total of 78 daily samples were collected consecutively during the dry and wet seasons in 2019 and 2020. The average PM2.5 concentration (66.26 µg/m3 ± 29.70 µg/m3 with a range from 23.57 to 169.04 µg/m3) observed in Hanoi metropolitan exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality standard QCVN 05:2013/BTNMT (50 µg/m3). Both UNMIX and PCA/APCS expressed comparable ability to reproduce measured PM2.5 concentrations. Additionally, both models identified similar potential sources of PM2.5 including traffic-related emissions, scrap metal recycling villages, crustal mixed with construction sources, coal combustion mixed with industry, and biomass burning. Both UNMIX and PCA/APCS confirmed that traffic-related emission was the most influential PM2.5 with a high percentage contribution of 59% and 55.97%, respectively. All the HQ and Cr values for both children and adults of toxic elements apportioned by both UNMIX and PCA/APCS in every source were within the acceptable range.

Keywords: Health risk assessments; PCA/APCS; PM2.5; Source apportionment; Trace metals; UNMIX.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Air Pollutants* / analysis
  • Air Pollution* / analysis
  • Child
  • Coal / analysis
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods
  • Humans
  • Particulate Matter / analysis
  • Risk Assessment
  • Seasons
  • Vehicle Emissions / analysis

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Particulate Matter
  • Coal
  • Vehicle Emissions